We isolated Pseudomonas otitidis strain MrB4 from the near-shore area of Lake Biwa in Japan and generated its complete genome sequence. MrB4 possesses a single circular chromosome of 6,089,454 bp, with ∼97% average nucleotide identity to the P. otitidis type strain MCC10330 (draft genome).

Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) has an N-terminal fructosyl valine on the β-chain, and this modification is caused by the non-enzymatic glycosylation of hemoglobin (Hb). The relative concentration ratio of HbA1c to total Hb is an important biomarker for the diagnosis of diabetes. HbA1c-binding lectins were screened from 29 sources of lectin, and the lectin from Aleuria aurantia (AAL) was revealed to have higher affinity to HbA1c than to Hb. The concentration of HbA1c was determined by lectin-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using the AAL lectin. Higher reproducibility of the assay was observed at 4 °C than at 25 and 37 °C. This observation is consistent with the known temperature-dependent behavior of lectins. Preincubation of HbA1c with an anti-HbA1c antibody inhibited the binding, suggesting that AAL binds to the N-terminal fructosyl valine epitope of HbA1c. Higher inhibitory effect was observed for 10 mM d-fructose than for the same concentrations of l-fucose, d-fucose, or d-glucose.

We isolated the soil bacterium strain PL1 and herein report its complete genome sequence. The strain presented 97% average nucleotide identity (ANI) to Bacillus cereus and 91% ANIs to other members of the B. cereus group, indicating that it is affiliated with B. cereus.

We report here the complete genome sequence of Geobacillus sp. strain E55-1, isolated from the hot sediments of Mine Geyser in Japan. This strain exhibited ∼85% average nucleotide identity and ∼98.5% 16S rRNA sequence identity with the most closely related Geobacillus species.